Eswatini National First Division
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Organising body | Eswatini Football Association |
|---|---|
| Country | Eswatini |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Premier League of Eswatini |
| Relegation to | Regional Super Leagues |
| Domestic cup | Ingwenyama Cup |
| Current champions | Malanti Chiefs |
| Website | Website |
The National First Division, also known as the MTN National First Division for sponsorship reasons, is the second-tier league of football in Eswatini, operating under the auspices of the Eswatini Football Association.
The top two performing clubs in the National First Division earn automatic spots in the Premier League of Eswatini the following season while the bottom two performers in the top flight are automatically relegated. The third and fourth best clubs in the First Division compete in a play-off against the third and fourth lowest performers of the Premier League to determine who will compete in the first and second tier leagues the following season.[1] This format was expanded when the Premier League increased to sixteen teams prior to the 2025–26 season.[2] Prior to a October 2021 rule amendment, there were no play-offs and the top and bottom two clubs were automatically promoted/relegated only.[3]
As of the 2024/2025 season, the four lowest-ranked teams in the league are automatically relegated to their Regional Super Leagues while the champion of each Super League joins the National First Division the following season.[4]
